# 3421 - Encapsulated PostScript FAQs The purpose of this document is to explain and clarify the differences and similarities between the three types of Encapsulated Postscript files that the CorelDRAW 7 Suite will support. The three types are Encapsulated Postscript (EPS), Postscript Interpreted (PS, PRN, EPS) and Adobe Illustrator (AI). Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) EPS is the filename extension for Encapsulated PostScript files. PostScript is a page description language. This language interprets to PostScript code information describing page layout, graphics and bitmaps. This code can be viewed and edited in most standard text editors. EPS is a device independent, cross-platform file type. For example, files can be created on the MacIntosh system, exported as EPS, and opened and printed on a PC based system. CorelDRAW 7 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 7 can import and export EPS files. The CorelDRAW 7 Suite uses an EPS Placeable format. This means that when exporting as an EPS file, users will have the option to export with or without an Image Header. An Image Header can best be described as a low resolution image that is displayed as a reference for placement purposes only. This image will be the same size as the original artwork and will print in its full resolution when printing to a PostScript Printer. The EPS information remains attached to the image header and is used when the image is printed to a PostScript printer. The bounding box is determined by the outer most limits of the file and is used to display the size of the image for placement purposes. The exporting application automatically determines the size of the bounding box. The EPS Placeable format is intended for output only. Although the EPS file is editable in a text editor, it is not recommended that you do so. Editing this PostScript file can result in possible data loss. EPS Export Options Image Header Options The image header is either a Windows Metafile (WMF) or a TIF Bitmap (TIF). The user has the choice of exporting with different headers. The image header can be black and white, 4 or 8 bit grayscale, or 4 or 8 bit color. The image header can be exported at a resolution from 1 to 300 DPI. Note: Some third-party applications may have a limitation on the image header size that you can import. If this occurs, users may receive an error message stating that the file is too large. In the interest of file size, it is recommended to export the image header at the default resolution of 72 DPI. Even though the header appears in a low resolution on screen, the file will output in full resolution to a PostScript printer. The file may also be exported without an image header. This will decrease file size, however, a representation of the artwork will not be displayed. Instead, a grey box, the same size as the bounding box for the artwork will be displayed. In the CorelDRAW 7 suite, the gray box will display the filename and the application which it was created in. EPS Text Options When exporting as EPS Placeable from the CorelDRAW 7 Suite, the option to export text as Curves or Text will be given. If Curves is chosen, then the text in the file will not be editable for any future revisions. If the Text option is chosen, point size and font information should be maintained. The option to Include Fonts will also be available. Enabling this check box will download the font into the EPS file. No fonts will be downloaded if you export text as curves. Note: If a font used in the file is not resident on the printer or has not been embedded into the file, either the text will print in Courier, or the drawing will not print. If Type 1 Fonts are required it is necessary to ensure that all fonts have been downloaded to your printer. Other Options Use Float Bounding Box: This option is a new feature in CorelDRAW 7. By nature an EPS bounding box is specified in points. Decimals are not permitted. Therefore rounding up to 2 points is inevitable. This new feature works around this limitation and outputs the bounding box with a greater degree of accuracy. Auto Increase Fountain Steps: This option increases the number of steps that are used to render fountain fills. This may increase printing time, but will reduce the risk of banding. Maintain OPI: OPI stands for Open PrePress Interface. It is a method that positions high-resolution bitmaps on the printed page by using low-resolution replicas. Two images are created using a high-quality scanner. The bureau scans the image and places it on a OPI server (this is a high end server software). A high-resolution version, which is kept on file and a low-resolution equivalent. The low-resolution image is imported into your documents and used for placement purposes. Working with OPI will help reduce the document size and the time needed to redraw the screen. At the time of final output, the high-resolution files replace the low resolution version. All links will be maintained if this option is selected. Convert Color Bitmaps to Grayscale: This option will do exactly as it implies. Use this setting when outputting to black and white printers. Use Color Profile: This option will export the document using the current color profile for your printer as defined by the Corel Color Manager. EPS Auto Trapping Options Two choices for Auto Trapping are given as options in the EPS Export dialog box. . Always Overprint Black: This option creates a color trap by causing any object that contains 95% black or more to overprint any underlying objects. Auto-spreading: This option creates color trapping by assigning an outline to an object that is the same color as its fill, and having it overprint underlying objects. EPS Export Limitations  In the CorelDRAW 7 Suite, EPS headers will change in size depending on the specified resolution of the headers. To ensure accurate placement, export the file with the image header resolution at the default 72 DPI.  EPS files exported from Windows NT 3.51 can not be reimported in CorelDRAW 7 using the PostScript Interpreted filter.  The CorelDraw 7 Suite can only export single pages within an EPS file but it can import multiple page EPS documents created in other application EPS Import Limitations  If a file is imported which contains large or complex gradient fills, a very large number of objects may be generated. This is due to the way PostScript describes gradient fills. This may result in a a very large file size.  EPS file formats may not import correctly using the All Files import option. To import EPS files, ensure that the appropriate filter type from the List Files of Type list box is selected. EPS - Frequently Asked Questions Q I have exported using EPS as the file type, but now I need to go back and edit my artwork. When I import the EPS file it is just a box on the screen. I cannot edit it and the resolution looks terrible. What did I do wrong? A When you import an EPS file using the Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) filter, you will only be importing the image header and not the actual file. In order to edit this file, import the EPS file using the PostScript Interpreted filter. Adobe Illustrator EPS AI is the filename extension for vector graphics files created using Adobe Illustrator . The properties of this filter type are similar to EPS, however, this format is intended to be used with vector art only. CorelDRAW 7, Corel PHOTO-PAINT 7, and CorelDEPTH 7 can successfully import this filter type. The CorelDRAW 7 AI filter provides full support for the following Adobe Illustrator formats: 6.x, 5.x, 4.x, 3.x, 1.1 and 88. This filter type is also cross-platform, meaning it can be imported by both PC and MacIntosh systems. AI Export Options Text Options The text options are similar to EPS, except that the option to Include Fonts is not available. The choices will be Text as Text or Text as Curves. As stated above, if the text is exported as Curves the text will not be editable. Other Options Simulate Outline Effects: This option is a useful setting if the document contains outline effects such as arrowheads, or dashed lines. If this setting is chosen the outline effects will not be editable in Adobe Illustrator. Convert Spot Colors to Process: This option will convert all spot colors in the file to their CMYK (Process) color equivalents. AI Export Limitations  On export the AI filter will create a separate EPS file for every bitmap contained within the original file. The newly generated file is placed in the same folder, and is given a similar name, i.e.,. TEST.AI and TEST1.EPS. Bitmap PowerClips, and the following fills; PostScript, full-color bitmap, two-color bitmap, texture, interactive and transparency fills are ignored when exporting.  In General, AI files cannot support multiple layers or multiple pages. The exception to this rule is AI version 6.0 which will support multiple layers but not multiple pages.  Fountain fills will be exported as a series of filled bands, similar to the effect you get using the Blend feature. The maximum number of bands supported is 50. The number of bands is determined by the Preview Fountain Steps setting on the Display tab of the Tools, Options dialog box.  Arrowhead line caps are simulated by drawing the caps as separate objects. End caps either Round or Square will be lost upon export.  Fit Text to Path is supported, however, each character will be exported as a separate text string.  If a text object contains characters with special attributes, ie kerning, rotation, typeface changes, and scaling, then each letter will be exported as a separate object and then converted to curves. AI Suggestions  To make the export conversion easier, avoid combining objects in your file.  During the export conversion, objects can become complex, making it much more difficult to edit. To avoid this problem, save a copy of the file in .CDR format and use CorelDRAW to edit the file.  If exported text displays in another font (usually the default font) or prints in Courier, export the file again with Export Text as Curves enabled in the Export AI dialog box. This option should be selected whenever your file contains a font not available in Adobe Illustrator. AI vs. EPS The AI format is a subset of the .EPS format that the CorelDRAW 7 Suite also exports. When you export to AI, you may sacrifice some of the drawing effects that only EPS supports. Therefore, if the intention is to print the file in a desktop publishing program like Corel VENTURA or Adobe PageMaker , then export the file using the EPS filter instead of the AI filter. AI - Frequently Asked Questions Q When I import AI files into CorelDRAW 7, I cannot make any changes to the graphic. It seems impossible to select a single object from the imported graphic. How can I do this? A Imported AI graphics will open into CorelDRAW 7 as a group of objects. Click Arrange, Ungroup in order to separately manipulate and edit the objects. Q Why do my line caps and corners dropped out of my file when I import it into Adobe Illustrator? A It is possible to accurately reproduce calligraphic outlines, corner styles, and line caps. To do this, click Tools, Options, Text and enable the Calligraphic Text check box. The outlines will export as a group of polygons which match the appearance of the outlines in the application. This will significantly add to the size of the exported file. Q I created a fountain fill from 100 Cyan to 100 yellow. I then exported the fountain filled object as an AI file. After importing it back into CorelDRAW 7, why did all the colors shift to the RGB space? A Although the AI filter will hold the CMYK color space when exported out of CorelDRAW 7, it is limited when importing vector objects into CorelDRAW 7. On import it will convert vector objects to RGB color. This will also happen with Pantone colors. The Pantone colors are supported on export but on import the Pantone colors will be mapped to the RGB color space. Open this file in Adobe Illustrator and the appropriate values should be maintained. Q I have created a small CDR file that contains some fountain fills, text and blends. The CDR is approximately 25 KB in size. When I export the file as an AI and look at the file size using Windows Explorer it shows a file size of approximately 35 MB in size. Why is the file size so large? A This issue is related to the fountain fills in the file. The fountain fills are exported as a series of filled bands which can greatly increase the size of the AI file. Try exporting the original file as AI version 6.0. This version should reduce the file size because it supports most fountain fills. Other versions of AI only simulate the fountain fills. POSTSCRIPT INTERPRETED CorelDRAW 7 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 7.0 can import PostScript Interpreted files. This filter is used primarily for interpreting print files (.PRN) and editing the actual image of an EPS file. PostScript Interpreted will import the files in the following formats; EPS, PS, and PRN. PS Import Limitations  If the file being imported contains Type 1 fonts, then the text will lose the font and style information when imported into CorelDRAW 7 using the PS filter.  This usually happens when importing EPS files because when the text was exported to EPS, a font name and style that is known to the printer, but not known to the system was assigned. When importing this document back into CorelDRAW, the font style and font name cannot be found. Even though the font may not look correct, the text will still be editable.  This differs from text created using TrueType fonts. If TrueType text is exported as text without selecting include fonts, then the text will be imported as curves automatically.